9 minute read
Turning aflatoxin contaminated food into sustainable protein and Fertilizer
Using insects to upcycle aflatoxin contaminated maize and other foods into locally produced, essential agricultural inputs for Africa’s farmers
By Laura Stanford - Founder of The Bug Picture Kenya Ltd and Loop Pet Food Ltd
Aflatoxin is a naturally occuring, potent, carcinogenic toxin that contaminates many food items from groundnuts, sorghum, cotton-seed, chili and millet globally including maize, a staple crop in Africa. The World Health Organisation estimates that over 500 million people, predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa, are exposed to the serious long-term health effects of aflatoxin. These include liver cancer, stunting and even acute toxicosis and malnutrition in children. As with humans, continued consumption of aflatoxin contaminated feed significantly impacts on livestock production with up to 25% young animals die resulting in increased cost of production which is passed onto consumers.
Once aflatoxin is present, it is untreatable.
Bühler`s Lumovision is a sorting technology that eliminates up top 90% of contaminated maize and improves yield, by identifying and removing cancercausing, aflatoxin-infected grains using UV lights and real-time data to monitor and analyze contamination risk.
The question is…
What can and should be done with the aflatoxin contaminated maize to ensure responsible disposal?
Incineration is an option however, it is expensive (more than $450 per MT) and in countries where hundreds of thousands of tons of maize is contaminated with aflatoxin annually, it is unaffordable for governments.
Additionally, incineration has a negative impact on the environment and results in a total loss of the nutrients in the maize which is a real concern on a continent where food security is an ongoing challenge.
Introducing the black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) as the innovative and sustainable insect hero.
BSFL bioconvert organic waste into alternative protein for animal feed and organic fertiliser in only 2 weeks. They are naturally occuring along the equator due to favourable climatic conditions.
Further refinement of their products are used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and medical industries. Companies are farming BSF larvae all over the world combining climate smart, organic waste diversion from landfill with a sustainably produced source of protein for animal feed and organic fertiliser to feed the world’s growing population.
In February 2022, first-of-itskind research was kicked off in Kigali, Rwanda into the use of these insects to consume aflatoxin contaminated maize to understand its potential impact on the insects` growth and more importantly, whether the toxin was present in their system after harvest.
The insects were fed a balanced diet including maize with aflatoxin levels more than 15x safe consumption levels (160ppb). The results showed that the larvae accumulated the aflatoxin at a safe level for use in animal feed (less than 10ppb). Furthermore, the byproduct of organic fertiliser did not show any levels of the fungus that causes aflatoxin and can safely be used by crop farmers.
This approach offers a solution to responsibly removing aflatoxin contaminated food and feed from the market while having a positive environmental impact. The absence of aflatoxin contaminated foods in markets (formal or informal) will create safer food systems and generally healthier nations. The promotion of locally produced essential agricultural inputs for animal feed and organic fertiliser production boosts the internal economy, creating less reliance on importation markets and stabilizing commodity prices.
This research was funded by the International Finance Corporation and executed through partners: The Bug Picture, ETH Zurich, Wageningen University and University of Rwanda. The full research paper will be available by Q4 2023.
NEWS UPDATES
Olam Agri appoints Serge François Schoen to chair recently named eight-member Board of Directors
SINGAPORE – Agri-food giant, Olam Group, has appointed eight members to the Olam Agri Board to lend additional focus to its overarching strategy to address the supply chain challenges around the world.
Olam Agri is a food, feed, and fiber agribusiness with a global origination footprint, processing capabilities, and a focus on emerging markets.
Its products and services include grains and oilseeds, flour, pasta, integrated feed and protein, rice, edible oils, specialty grains and seeds, cotton, wood products, rubber, commodity financial services, and funds management.
Among the appointees are Serge François Schoen, Non-Executive and Independent Director, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Governance, Nomination, Talent & Remuneration Committee, and Member of the Risk & Market Compliance Committee.
On the list also was Hixonia Nyasulu, who will hold the office of Non-Executive and Independent Director, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, Chair of the Sustainability Committee, and Member of the Governance, Nomination, Talent & Remuneration, and Audit & Compliance Committees.
Other members include Ms. Eng Chin Chin, Pierre Lorinet, Jenifer Thien, Mr. Sulaiman AlRumaih, Mr. Anuj Maheshwari as well as Sunny George Verghese, the Group CEO and Executive Director of Olam Group and Olam Agri and Member of the Risk & Market Compliance and Sustainability Committees.
Egyptian snacks giant Edita Food enters the frozen bakery segment by acquiring Fancy Foods for US$12M
EGYPT – Edita Food Industries (EFI), a leading Egyptian snack food producer, has entered the frozen bakery segment through the acquisition of Fancy Foods S.A.E., a local manufacturer specializing in the production of frozen foods for US$12 million.
According to the company, this new investment should enable Edita Foods to expand its business portfolio in the frozen food segment and consolidate its presence in the local food industry.
In addition, Edita aims to expand its offering to fresh and ready-to-bake pastry products.
“The deal equips the Company with the necessary frozen technology infrastructure, marking a significant step in applying our R&D to complementary ventures while capitalizing on our market-leading portfolio of proprietary brands,” said Hani Berzi, Edita Chairman, said The company revealed that the investment includes the acquisition of 100% of the assets of Fancy Foods, namely two complete production lines and other machinery, as well as land, real estate, and a distribution branch.
As part of the agreement, Edita said that it has acquired the technical knowhow and recipes for a range of frozen bakery products.
AFEX seeks to raise US$65M to drive expansion into 7 new African countries
NIGERIA – AFEX, Nigeria’s first private agricultural commodities exchange player, has announced plans to raise US$65 million to fund its expansion plan into seven new African countries in a bid to capitalize on the growth in intraAfrican trade.
According to Eficon Agency, the leading private agricultural commodity exchange is making a strategic move as it looks to take advantage of growing trade across the continent resulting from the entry into force of African free continental trade area (AfCTA).
Founded in 2014, AFEX already operates in Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda, where it trades nine agricultural commodities, including maize, wheat, sorghum, and cocoa.
Wageningen University leads project to develop early warning system for mycotoxin detection
EUROPE – The Wageningen University Food Safety Research has launched a four-year project aimed at developing an advanced early warning system to detect the presence of mycotoxins in European cereal grains.
The project, titled “Early Warning of Mycotoxins in European Grain Supply Chain Using Machine Learning and Big Data,” brings together scientific and nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and industry leaders in a Public-Private Partnership.
It brings together esteemed partners from both the public and private sectors. Wageningen Food Safety Research is collaborating with industry leaders, including SGS, Cargill, Alltech, GMP+ International, and the Royal Dutch Grain and Feed Trade Association.
The project aims to harness the power of big data, machine learning, and existing prediction models to develop an innovative early warning tool.
Traders, food and feed producers, government agencies, and farmers will benefit from the system’s ability to predict the presence of mycotoxins during harvest.
By issuing warnings about high levels of mycotoxins, the system will empower stakeholders to take proactive measures, such as conducting additional mycotoxin tests or isolating contaminated batches.
Côte d’Ivoire launches a semi-industrial cassava semolina production unit to boost local processing
CÔTE D’IVOIRE – The Côte d’Ivoire government has launched a semiindustrial cassava semolina production unit as part of the “Government Social Program” (PSGouv) for the benefit of the Sanata women’s farming group.
Cassava is the second most consumed basic product after yam in Côte d’Ivoire with an annual output of more than 4.2 million tons annually according to FAO.
However, in the sector, the informal sector is the main contributor to the creation of direct added value in the processing segment.
Ecofin Agency reports that the new unit, launched in the town of N’Douci started operations on 30 June producing Attiéké, a cassava product resembling couscous, popular in the country with demand growing regionally.
According to Sanata Coulibaly, president of the group, the unit can produce up to 2 tonnes of cassava semolina per day, 7 times more than the stock of 335 kg which was produced manually.
